From left are East Pennsboro Township commissioner candidates Charley Gelb, Democratic; George Tyson, Republican; James Lamb Sr., Republican; and Paul Hartman, Democratic. No other candidates for this position provided photos to PennLive.
(Submitted photos)

Key issues: A
potential 2014 tax increase, infrastructure maintenance, resident services, phase two of a Community Development Block Grant to
complete the West Fairview streetscape improvement project.

Three
Republicans and three Democrats will square off on Nov. 5 for three seats on
the township's board of commissioners.

Among
the issues facing them are maintaining the township's infrastructure,
continuing to provide expected services in light of rising costs and state and
federal government mandates and trying to hold the line on taxes.

There are some concerns in the
community that budget cuts have are damaging the infrastructure and causing
concerns about public safety.

The tax issue arose recently when Township Manager John Pietropaoli during a
work session told township commissioners that a tax increase might be necessary
in 2014.

General
fund expenditures are expected to be lower than this year's budgeted expenses,
but revenue is expected to be reduced by as much as $300,000 to $400,000 next
year, most of which is the result of the township's sewer upgrade project
ending.

Under
the discussions that have taken place so far, the owner of a home assessed at
$100,000 could see an increase of about $20 a year.

Another
issue in the township is the future of a community development block grant to
complete the West Fairview streetscape improvement project.

The $278,177
block grant is projected to include cosmetic upgrades, such as new sidewalks,
plantings and lighting, as well as the reconfiguration of the intersection at
State Street.

There
have been questions about the first phase of the project, including lighting,
trees that have died and stormwater runoff.

Township
officials plan to get residents' input before work on the project might begin
in late winter or early spring.

And
although much of this is out of the hands of the commissioners, there have been
issues with an $18 million
project to replace the Routes 11/15 bridge over the Norfolk Southern railroad
tracks in Enola.

That
project, expected to continue for another year or more has forced motorists to
change their driving habits because of lane restrictions and detours.

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